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INTERIOR DECORATING Matt and Emma Pleming. The kitchen is a living zone, a personal space and an entertainment area. KITCHENS T HE kitchen is one of the most attention-grabbing rooms in a home, but it is also the most likely to break the bank when it comes to renovating. Go too cheap and it looks cheap, not chic. Go too dear and you may need three salaries to pay the bills, all the while being told you’ve overcapitalised. So how can you get a luxe look on a budget? It’s all in the styling, say the experts. The kitchen is the most renovated room in the home, said Chris Goss, director of Orbit Solutions, which specialises in luxury developments such as the Ivy project in St Kilda. The major cost contributors are the carcass — the shelving, cabinets and fixtures. Most people spend $10,000 to $30,000 on a kitchen renovation, with the lower end of the scale considered a refurbishment. But using the “less is more” design approach can get a desired result while saving you heaps, Mr Goss said. Crafty Modern open-plan layouts are redefi ning the function of the kitchen as never before. “Instead of putting a lot in, focus on the one feature item,” he said. The big focal point in current kitchen design trends is the rangehood, which used to be concealed, but is now a more sculptural display item, according to Mr Goss. Cutting down on wastage is a key cost reduction. Little things such as not slicing through a glass splashback for the power points or taps will bring glazing costs down. Using today’s “convincing” laminates instead of real stone or timber will also be more cost-effective, but Mr Goss warned that cheaper materials may damage more easily and need to be replaced more often. If using the real thing, Mr Goss said that reconstituted stone was the same price installed as granite, which had a very signifi cant cost. “Engineered stone doesn’t stain as much and is a lot more durable so it’s less likely to snap,” he said. People should spend money on benchtops as they are noticed more often than other surfaces, Mr Goss said. Use clean, neutral hues that won’t date and present the colours in blocks to create more interest in contrasting textures and finishes. Adding gloss finishes will make a place feel lighter. Build in fl exible elements to maximise their use. “Think about the benchtop as a piece of furniture in both the kitchen and living room,” said Mr Goss. “In smaller, studio-style apartments, the bench might double as a breakfast table.” Kitchens that stand the test of time When you’re outlaying money on your kitchen, you want to make sure it lasts and that you are not sick of the sight of it in a few short years. MARIA WHITMORE reports. T HE advantage of utilising the expertise of a specialist kitchen and joinery centre is that the workmanship is guaranteed for years – unlike the cheap do-it-yourself kitchens spruiked frequently on television. Co-owner of Stephenson’s Kitchen & Joinery, Emma Pleming, cites the case of her own 2 Pak kitchen, which is now seven years old. “We’ve got small children, pets and we’ve had no problems with drawer runners or hinges and I can’t see why we can’t have it another 10 years,” Mrs Pleming said. Aspecialist kitchen centre can accommodate the full range of customer budgets and tastes, she said. “These days we can prepare anything – from a flat pack, which we design, cut and organise and they put together themselves, to a fully installed kitchen,” she said. Today kitchen styles tended to be simpler, sleeker and shinier, she said, with light, natural colours popular. “And there’s such a range of benchtops now – granite, man- made, acrylic, timber,” she added. Due to its durability and adaptability, 2 Pak is still hugely popular, Mrs Pleming said. “A lot of people love 2 Pak. Its colour can be changed. It can be glossy, satin, any fi nish. And the colour can match the wall colour.” NEW LOCATION 15 Robson Street, Warrnambool OPEN NOW FOR ALL YOUR JOINERY NEEDS NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL! Fax: 5561 2558 stephensonskitchens@bigpond.com Quality Kitchens • Custom designed and manufactured • Create a new kitchen or upgrade with your existing design • Made to measure vanity units • Laundries • Wardrobes and wall units • Reception and computer desks • Available for all domestic and commercial needs BUILDINGORBUYING 29 Ph: 5562 8255 WS594732-KVB6/11/08 WS594732-KVB6/11